Electrical connecter



Aug. 30, 1932. c. e'. OLSON ELECTRICAL GONNECTER Filed Dec. 13; 1929 Patented 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

CARL e. oLsoiI, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,'ASSIGNOR mo SEAKEPROOF LOCK wasnm coirramuor' cnrcaeo, ILLINOIS, A conronarron or DELAWARE Application filed December 13, 1929. Serial No. 413,709.

My invention relates generally to improvements in terminal construction and particularly to terminals or connecters for use in connection with impressionable material such as to terminals or connecters which are particularly adaptable for 'use in connection with relatively soft or impressionable sheet material such as fibroid and the like commonly employed as an insulating medium. The present invention, however, differs from the invention set forth in theabove mentioned copending application in that it contemplates detail wherein like numerals have been em-.

ployed to designate similar parts throughout the provision of a new and decidedly practical tooth construction. It is one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a tooth construction for a terminal member which will have increased locking effectiveness and to this end I propose to provide teeth having. a .concave construction which will present work engaging edges as well as areas into which impressionable material may flow when the terminal is clamped there against.

More specifically my invention contemplates the provision of a terminal member of flat stock having a plurality of annularly arranged teeth, said teeth being provided with concave or V-shaped recesses for increasing the locking effectiveness of the teeth when the same are clamped against impressionable ma.-

terial.

of 'a detache'dconnecter similar to the one shown. in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is atransverse sectional View taken substantially along the line 3-.-3 of Figure 2; 1 Figure 4 IS an enlarged fragmentary, view of the device asshown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of Figure 4 and dicloses in elevation the connecter teeth, only the flange portions of the rivet being disclosed adjacent the sides of the teeth. and insulating material; I v

Figure 7 is a developed view of the teeth of the connecter shown in Figures 1 to 6; and Figure 8 is a developed view of a modified tooth construction in which the teeth are provided with concave surfaces.

Referring now to the drawing more in the various figures, it will be seen that my invention contemplates the provision .of a connecter or terminal which I have designated generally by the numeral 10. This connecter includes a shank portion 12 having an aperture 14 adapted to receive an electrical conductor 16. The opposite extremity of the terminal is formed with an enlarged section 18 which is provided with a central aperture 20. Disposed around this aperture is a plurality of work engaging teeth 22 which teeth are separated by cut-outs or spaces 24.-

Attention is particularly directedv to the specific construction of the teeth 22. It will be noted that these teeth are bent so that the outer extremities are V-shaped in cross sec-' tion, a V-shaped groove 26 opening to one side of the connecter stock and a blunt edge '28 oppositelydisposed from said V-shaped recess. Sharp edgesBO are presented at each side of the recess 26 and are in aposition, when the terminal or connecter isclamped between the work, to effectively engage said work. Alternate teeth are bent in one .direction and the other alternate teeth are bent in the opposite direction so that either side of the connecter may be applied to the work.

Referring to Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6, it will .be seen that the connecter is particularly 100 adaptable for use with insulating sheet maconnecter aperture 20 and an aperture 36 provided in the material 32. An annular flange 38 of the rivet is brought to bear against the teeth 22 and a flange 40 is clamped against the outer surface of the insulating'material 32. The clamping action of the rivet is such as to cause the sharp edges v30 as well as the blunt edges 28 facing the material 32 to be forced into the impressionable surface. The material 32, in response to the pressure exerted by the rivet, is also caused to flow or'be forced into the V-shaped recesses 26 and it will thus be apparent that the terminal or connecter 10 is rmly secured in position. Obviousl the structural characteristics of the insu ating material as well as the structural characteristics of the connecter stock will determine the degree to which the teeth and impressionable material interlock.

' In Figure 8 I have shown a tooth development of modified construction." In this figure teeth 22a are shown which are provided with concavities or recessed areas 26.0: on

both sides thereof. Relatively sharp edges,

30a are presented at each extremity of the concavities'. These teeth 22a areadapted to be positivel clamped in position adjacent impressiona le material such as the material 32 in the manner described in connection with Figures 4 to 6 inclusive. In clamping the teeth 22a against the impressionable material, the sharp edges or corners 30a are forced into the material and said material is caused to flow into the concavities 26a. In this manner the connecter is firmly secured against displacement.

' From the foregoing description it will be apparent that my invention contemplates the provision of a connecter whichdnay be constructed of any suitable conductive ma terial and this material need not have the same rigid characteristics of the sheet bronze which has heretofore been employed in the manufacture of lock washers and other devices of like nature which are used to secure metallic parts such as bolts, screws, nuts and the like against loosening. Bronze is comparatively expensive and possesses inherentcharacteristics "which makes it particularl adaptable for use in instances where teet or prongs are to be used for digging into me tallic surfaces. My invention, as wellas the I l inventlon set forth in the above mentioned copending application, is concernedwith the problems of providing. a relatively cheap and eificiently operable terminal member which may be secured in position upon impressionablo material. 1

ever, it should From the foregoing description it should bewclear that the tooth construction is such as to greatly enhance the locking effectiveness of the connecter. This increase in locking effectiveness results from the fact that when pressure is applied to the parts as for example .through the agency of the rivet 34, the sharp edges and recesses of the connecter teeth as well as the cut-outs or recesses between the teeth cooperate with the impressionable or flowable material so as to positively secure said connecter in place. After said connecter has once been secured in position, the same ma be subjected to considerable handling an use without the slightest tendency for said connecter to loosen. By having the connecter teeth disposed in opposite directions as shown in the drawing, either side of said connecter may be applied to the impressionable surface.

Obviously, the prongs may be U-shaped in cross section as well as V-shaped. The sharp edges presented at each side of the recesses sink into the fiber when riveted in position sothat not only the recess of the tooth but also the spaces between said teeth will receive the impressionable material clamped there against. The sharp edges of the prongs bearing against the rivet head also insure the desired electrical contact. In instances where the teeth are pressed against a comparatively hard material which does not readily yield to the tooth edges, these teeth will have a tendnecter teeth is such as to efi'ectively employ not only the concavities or V-shaped recesses within-the prongs or teeth themselves for receiving the impressionable material, but also the spaces between the adjacent teeth.

In the drawing I have disclosed the'prongs as being arran ed in spaced relation. Howit? understood clearly that the invention is limited in no sense to such a spaced relation, but contemplates the pro vision of adj acently positioned prongs in instances where such a construction is most desirable. B eliminating the spaces or by making sai spaces relatively small, obvious-- ly the number of teeth may be increased.

- Having thus described my invention, what 0 aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a 1. A terminal offlat spring stock havin an aperture therein forreceivmga termina post,-a body portion, and a plurality of margmal prongs extending from and formed integral' with said body portion, each prong having a pair of work engaging edges posi tioned out of the plane of the body portion, the edges of some of the prongs being positioned on one side of the body and the edges of the other prongs on the opposite sides of the body, a space being provided between said edges for receiving impressionable material when the prongs are clamped thereagainst, said edges lying in planes spaced from and substantially parallel with the plane of the bod 2 In combination with a sheet oflimpressionable material, an apertured terminal member of flat spring stock,said member having a plurality of resilient teeth annularly disposed about said aperture, and a cyclindrical clamping member extending through said aperture and said impressionable material, said clamping member having an annular flange which clampingly engages the impressionable material and another annular flange which clampingly engages said resilient teeth, one of said flan es having a diameter not greater than the diameter of the circle determined by the roots of said annularly disposed teeth, recessesbeing provided on opposite sides of the spring stock within said teeth to facilitate the locking engagement of said teeth with the impressionable material.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CARL G. OLSON. 

